Gilmore appoints journalist Niamh Sweeney as fourth adviser

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore has appointed a fourth adviser to deal with issues relating to his work as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Journalist Niamh Sweeney (32) took up her position earlier this month. She will receive a standard principal officer’s salary of €80,051.

Her appointment was the subject of criticism from Fianna Fáil Seanad leader and finance spokesman Darragh O’Brien. “As the Cabinet sits down to debate how many elderly people should lose home help hours, and how many hospital beds they are going to close, the Labour Party leader thinks that yet another highly-paid special adviser for his personal use is a spending priority,” he said.

Ms Sweeney worked as a journalist for RTÉ from 2005 to 2010 before furthering her studies. She undertook a master’s degree in business and economics journalism at Columbia University, New York. After that she reported for The Irish Times from New York as well as working for several other publications. She also spent some time at Bloomberg Radio.